Blade Markings 1919

UK Manufacturers/Markings

Wilkinson

Wilkinson Sword Co.

53 Pall Mall, London SW1

WSC,

Wilkinson Sword Co.

53 Pall Mall, London SW1

After of around WWI Wilkinson was the only producer of new 1907 (No1) bayonets in the UK, continuing production into WWII, producing around 130,000 blades from 1936 to 1943. 87,600 of the new production blades were to fulfil a contract for the Admiralty, these blades were marked with the S294 code and are readily recognised by their blackened finish. Most of the production was to provide bayonets for the Lanchester SMG, which was a copy of the German Bergmann and was equipped with a stud for attaching the bayonet.

S294

Wilkinson Sword Co.

53 Pall Mall, London SW1

Used on the Admiralty contract blades.

Wild Tiger

10,000 bayonets and rifles were reconditioned by British Small Arms for a contract for SIAM in 1920. The bayonets were not new made rather they were reconditioned previously issued blades. They have a distinctive tigers head ricasso stamp, and the serial number of the weapon in Siamese script below this (matching rifle and bayonet stamps)

India Manufacturers/Markings

RFI

Rifle Factory Ishapore

Separate production figures are not available for the various variations and manufacturers on the 1907 pattern bayonet made in India but a total production figure for all versions is quoted as around 750,000 for the WWII period

NWR

North West Railways, Moghulpura

MIL

Metal Industries Lahore, Punjab

JU

South African Manufacturers/Markings

AECO

A.E. Co

No records for production could be found in the texts as the 1907 pattern is not recorded as having been produced in South Africa

S.A.R

South African Railways

Another previously unidentified producer of the 1907 pattern bayonet.

Australian Manufacturers/Markings

Lithgow

After 1920 the month was added and the year changed to two digits in line with UK and US markings although 4 digit years will still be found. Blades were produced until 1927, and then it was not until 1940 that manufacture was commenced again. It was in 1927 that the ricasso marking MA over 1907 first appeared, up until then the Lithgow was still used. After 1940 inspectors stamps appeared on the ricasso. In 1942 bayonet manufacture moved from Lithgow to Orange

MA

Used from 1927 until 1942, the MA is said to have come from the telex ID of MACHARMS (Machinery Armament) but has also been said to be representative of Made in Australia and Munitions Australia. Watts and White also suggested that it was from a not carried out proposal to site the factory at Maribrynong Australia. It is nothing to do with Mangrovite which was the supplier of the leather for the scabbard.

OA

Commencing in 1942 production was moved from Lithgow to Orange and the OA stamp was used